Remember kids:
IRC is free.
IRC is a open standard.
You can run your own IRC server.
IRC doesn't collect data on you and sell it.
You can still moderate your channels via invite, voice, and ban modes.
You can run a server on a 486.
IRC doesn't try to up sell you on "nitro".
IRC doesn't need to make money to make some VC happy.
@Baggypants @miah they absolutely can leave any walled garden for another or an open alternative.
There wasn’t some magical migration, no history was kept, nicks had to be reclaimed. It’s essentially start from scratch somewhere else.
The fact that it happened to use the same protocol as the previous network was coincidental and convenient but not an enabling factor.
@Baggypants @miah I just left IRC completely, the channels I ran mostly died and communities are vibrant on slack instead.
(I was a PROLIFIC user for decades since mid 90s, highest contributor in some of the largest Freenode channels for years running etc, just as an aside its not like it was nothing for me)
@miah IRC was a huge gateway into the hacking world for teenage me in the 90s. And I filled so many notebooks with things I learned through IRC back then!
I wish I had those notebooks still... so much arcane knowledge got lost to time, elemental damage, and moves, and now I'm scrambling to recall it all!
@miah all of them apply to Matrix except running a server on 486. OTOH also regular people can use it.
(I was 25 years on IRC, it's one of the good guys)
@miah Also, remember to run your computer 24/7 to be able to read chat history.
In seriousness, though, I support the sentiment, but can't shed the intense feeling that IRC's focus has always been on serving the people that can operate it rather than being an universal protocol for everyone. Therefore, I think that replacing IRC with e.g. matrix and 486 with Raspberry Pi is more useful for 99% of people here.
(Disclaimer: I have used IRC as my primary chat for 6 years and matrix too.)
One thing I have to add is that you should assume what you say in IRC is recorded, and can be traced back to you by a person or organization determined enough to do so.
Practice good internet hygiene even in the places you THINK are safe.
@tilton I would love to see a modern version of IRC that supports modern expectations.
Things like buffering storage on the server so multi-device works, UTF-8 clean, etc.
@miah "but muh 'custom emoji' and persistence"
They seriously don't need those. Or if they do what they want is a web forum.
It's an older code but it checks out.
I haven't been in a irc channel since... I was probably too young to be in irc channels. But my mental model is such that I see slack and discord as irc with extra steps.
@miah IRC also
fedrates with other IRC servers
can be bridged to from Matrix
IRC is not an island!
@miah Matrix is all that too - AND encrypted to the highest standard ;)
(I bridge IRC-channels into my Matrix-server. One client for everything .. )
I absolutely adore trillian!~
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